101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in the Ann Arbor / Detroit Metro Area - 2024 *IN PROGRESS* | Kids Out and About Ann Arbor / Detroit

101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in the Ann Arbor / Detroit Metro Area - 2024 *IN PROGRESS*

KidsOutAndAbout is SE Michigan's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, and please keep in mind that events could be canceled... so click through to make arrangements. Enjoy the holidays!

If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Mindy Mangan at mindy@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!

If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for the Ann Arbor / Detroit Metro area, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you! In the meantime, enjoy the ideas below for holiday family fun in 2023!

Santa Sightings

Starting Nov 21, 2024 Santa Photo Experience - Briarwood Mall
Nov 22 - Dec 31, 2024 Lights Before Christmas - Toledo Zoo
Weekends Starting Nov 23 - Dec 15, 2024 Santa Experience - Orchard and Cider Mill
Starting Nov 23, 2024 Santa at The Festival of Trees - Dearborn, MI
Nov 29, 2024 The Lighted Parade & Arrival of Santa Claus - Downtown Holly, MI
Nov 29 - Dec 23, 2024 (multiple dates) The Holidays - Meadow Brook
Nov 29 - Dec 22 (multiple dates) Breakfast with Santa and The Grinch -  Canterbury Village
Opening Nov 29, 2024 Country Christmas - Three Cedars Farm
Nov 29 - Dec 1, 2024 Visit With Santa - Henry Ford Museum
Nov 30, 2024 Birmingham Santa Walk (REGISTER NOW)
Nov 30 - Dec 24 (multiple dates) Santa House - Downtown Birmingham Shain Park 
Dec 2, 2024 60th Annual Christmas Parade - Marshall
Dec 3 & 5, 2024 PJs and Stories with Santa - Saline Rec Center
Dec 3 & 4, 2023 Christmas in the Village - Mills Race Village
Multiple Dates Starting Dec 5, 2024 Supper With Santa - Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford
Dec 6, 2024 Christmas Parade & Santa - Downtown Tecumseh
Dec 7, 2024 Snacks with Santa- Lake Erie Metropark Golf Course
Dec 7, 2024 Hometown Holiday Light Parade - Main Street Chelsea
Dec 7, 2024 Breakfast with Santa - The Kingsley Bloomfield Hills
Dec 7, 8, 14, 15, 2024 Holiday Fun & Santa Visits at the Farm - Maybury Farm
Dec 8, 2024 Sunday with Santa - Oakwoods Metropark
Dec 9 -10, 2024 Cookies with Santa (REGISTER NOW) - Longacre House
Dec 16, 17, 2023 Breakfast with Santa Longacre House
Dec 9, 2023 Storytime with Santa - Community House
Dec 16, 17, 2023 Breakfast with Santa - Maggiano's Troy

 

Old-Time Christmas

Nov 30 - Dec 15, 2024 (select dates) Holly Dickens Festival
Nov 30 - Dec 24, 2024 (select dates) Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides - Downtown Birmingham Shain Park
Dec 1 & 2, 2023 Christmas in the Village - Mill Race Village
December 5 - 28, 2024 (select dates) Holiday Nights in Greenfield - The Henry Ford
Dec 7, 2024 Victorian Christmas and a Dickens’ Christmas Carol Marathon Reading - The Cappon House

 

Light Displays

Nov 8 & 9, 2024 Holiday Open House & Streetscape Lighting Ceremony - Downtown Tecumseh
Nov 15, 2024 Tree Lighting - Canterbury Village
Nov 17, 2023 Light Up Beacon Park
Nov 17, 2023 20th Annual Detroit Tree Lighting - Downtown Detroit
Nov 22, 2024 - Jan 4, 2025 Magic of Lights  - Pine Knob Music Theatre
Nov 22, 2024  Annual Detroit Tree Lighting Ceremony - Campus Martius Park
Nov 22, 2024 Holiday Lighted Parade - Downtown Northville
Nov 22 - Dec 31, 2024 Lights Before Christmas - Toledo Zoo
Nov 23, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025 Wild Lights - Detroit Zoo
Nov 29, 2024 Dickens Lighted Parade - Holly, MI
Nov 29 - Dec 30, 2024 Winter Wonder Lights - Meadow Brook Hal
Nov 29, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025 Walk of Trees 2024 - Kellogg Park
Nov 29 - Dec 23, 2024 (select dates) Canterbury Holiday Stroll - Canterbury Village - Lake Orion
Nov 30, 2024 Choose Marshall Chamber Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony - Honolulu House
Dec 1 - 6, 2024 The Big Reveal - Indian Springs Metropark
Dec 5 - 29, 2024 (Thursdays - Sundays) Marshall's Merry Mile Light Display - Calhoun County Fairgrounds
Dec 3, 2024 32nd Annual Holiday Lights Celebration - City of Farminton Hills
Multiple Days Starting Dec 6, 2024 Holiday Lights on the Farm - Wolcott Mill Metropark Farm Center
Dec 6, 2024 Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony - Downtown Auburn Hills
Dec 6 - 22 (select dates) Night of Lights - Greenmead Historical Village
Dec 7, 2024 2024 Festival of Trees - Mill Race Village
Dec 13, 2024 Lights Trails and Seasonal Tales - Lake Erie Metropark

 

Living Nativities

Dec 13 - 15, 2024 Walk Through Bethlehem Drive Through Experience - Clare Assembly of God

 

Holiday Theatre

Nov 6 - 10, 2024 Elf the Musical - Fox Theatre Detroit
Nov 27 - Dec 1, 2024 Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical- Fox Theatre Detroit
Nov 22 - Dec 22, 2024 (multiple dates) A Christmas Carol - Meadow Brook Theatre
Nov 22 & 23, 2024 The Nutcracker- Village Theatre at Cherry Hill
Nov 29, 2024 White Christmas Sing-Along - Michigan Theater
Dec 1, 2024 Elf - Michigan Theater
Dec 8, 2024 Dr. Seuss' The Grinch - Michigan Theater
Dec 8, 2024 Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet - Fox Theatre Detroit
Dec 13, 2024 Disney, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas - Village Theatre at Cherry Hill
Dec 15, 2024 Miracle on 34th Street - Michigan Theater
Dec 18, 2024 The 20th Anniversary Edition of the Christmas Broadway Spectacular - Village Theatre at Cherry Hill
Dec 20 - 31, 2024 “‘Twas The Night Before…” by Cirque du Soleil - Fox Theatre Detroit
Dec 22, 2024 A Christmas Story - Michigan Theater
Dec 23, 2024 Aaron Radatz 2024 Holiday Magic Show

 

Holiday Concerts

Nov 10, 2024 CYE Family Experience - Detriot Symphony Orchestra
Dec 6, 13, 20, 2023 Holiday Concert Series - The Community House
Dec 6, 2024 A Charlie Brown Christmas: Cyrus Chestnut and Friends - Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Dec 6 - 8, 2024 Ellington & The Nutcracker - Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Dec 7, 2024 Let it Snow! - Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Dec 8, 2024 The Empty Pockets Holiday Show - The Ark Ann Arbor
Dec 11, 2024 Home Alone in Concert - Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Dec 12 - 14, 2024 Ebird & Friends Holiday Show - The Ark Ann Arbor
Dec 13, 2024 Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis - Fox Theatre Detroit
Dec 13 - 15, 2024 Home for the Holidays - Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Dec 20 - 21, 2024 The Muppet Christmas Carol - Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Dec 21, 2024 Holiday Pops - Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra
Dec 22, 2024 Leslie Odom, Jr.: The Christmas Tour - Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Dec 28, 2024 Trans-Siberian Orchestra The Lost Christmas Eve Tour - Little Caesars Arena

 

Christmas Tree Experience

Open Nov 18, 2023 Addison-Oaks Christmas Tree Farm 
Open Nov 23, 2024 Hillside Christmas Tree Farm
Open Nov 23, 2024 Candycane Christmas Tree Farm
Open Nov 18, 2023 Huron Christmas Tree Farm
Open Nov 18, 2023 Middle Road Tree Farm
Open Nov 29, 2024 Urquart's Christmas Tree Farm
Open Nov 29, 2024 Holiday Greens & Tree Lot - The Henry Ford
Open Nov 21, 2023 The Millhaven
Open Nov 29, 2024 Runyan's Tree Farm
Open Nov 29, 2024 Arend's Tree Farm
Open Nov 29, 2024 Top Hill's Farm

 

Ice Skating

Open Nov 2024 - Mar 2025 Outdoor Ice Skating at The Rink - Campus Martius
Now Open 2024 Arctic Colliseum Public Skate
Now Open 2024 Ann Arbor Ice Cube
Open mid Dec 2024 - Jan 2025 Riley Park Ice Rink 
Now Open 2024 Garden City Ice Arena 

 

Hanukkah

Dec 1, 2023

Hanukkah Bizarre - Temple Beth Emeth

Dec 4, 2023

Chanukah Party for Single Parent Families - Aish Detroit

Dec 7, 2023

Unite to Light 2023 - Chabad House of Ann Arbor

Dec 7 - 14, 2023

TBE: Shine Together Hanukkah Candle Lighting - Temple Beth Emeth

Dec 7 - 15, 2023

8Ks of Hanukkah... 8 Krazy Ks! - Downtown Ann Arbor

Dec 9, 2023

TBE: Hanukkah Cookie Decorating with Cantor Hayut - Temple Beth Emeth

 

Shopping & Craft Fairs

Nov 9, 2024 Santa's Bag Arts & Craft Show - Marshall High School
Nov 11, 2022 - Jan 1, 2023 The Downtown Detroit Markets and Cadillac Lodge - Cadillac Square
Nov 17-19, 2023 Wayne Open-Air Christmas Market - Notre Dame Hall
Nov 16, 2024 Eastend Holiday Emporium - Eastend Studio & Gallery, Marshall
Nov 20-23, 2024 Holiday Greens & Winter Market - Northville
Nov 21 - 22, 2024 Royal Oak Market: Art Fair Edition - Royal Oak Farmers Market
Nov 18, 19 & 24 - 26, 2023 Holiday Extravaganza! - Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill
Nov 21, 2023 Marygrove Market Holiday Bazaar - Madame Cadillac – Brownstone
Nov 23, 2024 Annual Holiday Market at The Brady Lodge - Independence Township
Nov 26, 2023 Downtown Plymouth Holiday Greens Market - The Gathering in Downtown Plymouth
Nov 29, 2023 Holiday Market - Oakland County Farmers Market 
Dec 2, 2023 Holiday Bazaar - Downey Brewing Company
Dec 2, 2023 Parcells Middle School Holiday Bazaar
Dec 8, 9 , 10, 2023 Tinsel & Treasures - Embassy Suites Livonia
Dec 2 - 3, 2023  Detroit Urban Craft Fair 2023 - Masonic Temple Detriot
Dec 20, 2024 Moonlight Holiday Shopping - Downtown Tecumseh

 

New Year's Eve

Dec 31, 2023 The Detroit Circus - Village Theatre at Cherry Hill
Dec 30, 2023 Comfy Cozy New Year's Party (Youth/Adult) - Troy Recreation Center

 

Miscellaneous

Nov 4 - Dec 12. 2023 Hometown Holidays Toys For Tots - Chelsea, Michigan
Nov 11, 2023 Turkey Fest - Burgess-Shadbush Nature Center
Nov 18, 2023 Holiday Hustle - Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill
Nov 16- 17, 2024 Cocoa Crawl - Canterbury Village
Nov 22, 2024 Taylor Swift Holiday Dance Party - Canterbury Village
Nov 29 - Dec 1 & Dec 21 - 22, 2024 Grinch Weekend - Canterbury Village
Nov 25 - Dec 31, 2023 Holiday Carriage Rides - Downtown Detroit
Nov 27, 2023 59th Annual Marshall Christmas Parade- Marshall
Dec 1 - 30, 2023 Hometown Holiday Gingerbread House Display - Historic Downtown Chelsea
Dec 6, 2023 Merry Mile Eggnog Jog - Calhoun County Fairgrounds
Dec 8, 2023 Holiday Gifts w/ Buff City Soap - Saline Recreation
Dec 7, 2024 Kids Holiday Craft Club - Saline Rec Center
Dec 7 - 8, 2024 Elf Weekend - Canterbury Village
Dec 13, 2024 Grinchmas Swim Night - Saline Rec Center
Dec 9, 2023 Holiday Nature Ornaments - Stonycreek Metropark
Dec 14 - 15, 2024 Cookie Crawl - Canterbury Village
Dec 10, 2023 Polar Paws & Santa Claws 5K - Teledo Zoo
Nov 30 - Dec 3, 2023 Belleville WinterFest - City Center of Bellville
Dec 16 - Dec 17, 2023 Grinch Weekend - Canterubry Village
Dec 17, 2023 Natural History of the Holidays- Lake St. Clair Nature Center
Dec 22, 2023 Twilight Luminary Hike - Lake St. Clair Nature Center

 


Below are items that have been posted to our calendar. If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to postClick here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!


 

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